Department of Commerce March 30, 2022 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Census Bureau is publishing this notice to announce the renewal of the Census Scientific Advisory Committee (Committee or CSAC). The purpose of the Committee is to provide advice to the Director of the Census Bureau on the full range of Census Bureau programs and activities including communications; decennial, demographic, and economic statistics; field operations; geography; and information technology. Additional information concerning the Committee can be found by visiting the Committee's website at: https:// www.census.gov/about/cac/sac.html.

NMFS announces that the length of the recreational fishing season for black sea bass in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic will extend throughout the species' 2022-2023 fishing year. Announcing the length of recreational season for black sea bass is one of the accountability measures (AMs) for the recreational sector. This announcement allows recreational fishers to maximize their opportunity to harvest the recreational annual catch limit (ACL) for black sea bass during the fishing season while managing harvest to protect the black sea bass resource.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST or Institute) is extending the call for nominations to serve on the inaugural Internet of Things Advisory Board. An earlier notice had requested nominations by February 28, 2022. Registered Federal lobbyists may not serve on NIST Federal Advisory Committees in an individual capacity.

NMFS approves and implements the measures included in Framework Adjustment 34 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan as adopted and submitted by the New England Fishery Management Council. Framework 34 establishes scallop specifications and other measures for fishing years 2022 and 2023. This action incorporates the new specifications-setting methodology and other changes developed in Amendment 21 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan into the fishing year 2022 specifications. In addition, Framework 34 implements measures to protect small scallops, promote scallop recruitment in the mid-Atlantic, and reduce bycatch of flatfish. This final rule addresses regulatory text that is unnecessary, outdated, or unclear. This action is necessary to prevent overfishing and improve both yield-per-recruit and the overall management of the Atlantic sea scallop resource.

NMFS announces that the State of Maryland is transferring a portion of its 2021 commercial bluefish quota to the State of North Carolina. This quota adjustment is necessary to comply with the Atlantic Bluefish Fishery Management Plan quota transfer provisions. This announcement informs the public of the revised commercial bluefish quotas for Maryland and North Carolina.

NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific cod from vessels using jig gear to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters) length overall using hook-and-line or pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. This action is necessary to allow the A season apportionment of the 2022 total allowable catch of Pacific cod to be harvested.